Khuzwayo has been playing second fiddle to Khune for over five years now, but Steve feels the keeper has stepped up his game ahead of the Wits clash

Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has praised both Brilliant Khuzwayo and Bruce Bvuma for stepping up their game in the absence of Itumeleng Khune during the international break.

Khune was away with Bafana Bafana for the final two matches of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers with Senegal, and there are still concerns that he hasn't fully recovered from the facial injury he suffered against Chippa United two weeks ago.

According to Komphela, if Khune isn't 100 percent fit for the Telkom Knockout Cup encounter away to Bidvest Wits on Saturday afternoon, then both Khuzwayo and Bvuma are ready to step into his No.1's shoes.

“They are all ready. Brilliant is ready. Brilliant has been training well. Bruce Bvuma is also there‚” Komphela said on Wednesday.

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“The thing we can be happy about is that ‘Itu’ played without a mask [on Tuesday], and the only thing that we would be worried about‚ even for ‘Shabba’ [Tshabalala] and ‘Tower’ [Mathoho]‚ is that if given an opportunity to play on Saturday‚ would they have recovered? Because it’s killing to travel throughout Africa, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” said the 50-year-old coach.

Asked about Khune's never-say-die attitude after he played with a protective mask in the first leg against Senegal, Komphela refused to praise his goalkeeper, but said players like Khune deserve to be honoured.

“I don’t praise. Duty calls. You don’t praise anybody for doing what’s good for their country. When a man goes there and dies for their country you can’t praise. You have to honour them,” added Komphela.